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They say that youth is wasted on the young. And certainly, from what I can say of my own youth, I wasted a large portion of it working at jobs and projects that benefited others. Yes, I got a salary, but there was always something missing. For two years now I have been running my own business, and editing a magazine that aims to highlight the excellent work being done by the entrepreneurship industry around the globe. I have got to meet some exciting people who are passionate about furthering innovation and start-ups, and I have read articles and news stories that have led me to believe that entrepreneurs and those that help them take flight - these are the people who will define the future of our planet. Not our politicians, not our religions, not our cultures... but all of you reading this magazine now.

This year's EBN Congress is pivoted around the very crucial subject of youth entrepreneurship (page 18) and it has made me think a lot about what the younger generation needs to get them started on their way to turning ideas into viable businesses. And it would appear there is a lot going on to help them (page 12). The investment industry is gearing up its support in the entrepreneurship sector (page 46), and from China (page 40) to Uruguay (page 30) the world is witnessing a collective consciousness of the importance of incubation, innovation and all forms of entrepreneurship support. I have had the opportunity to work with some young people during the life of this magazine and I think we can all be hopeful for the future. Recently, at an art event by school children I saw that teenagers as young as 16 had put the concept of business incubation into their surprisingly mature artwork. With the huge amount of information that younger people have access to today, with their abilities to respond quickly and creatively to rapidly changing technologies, with travel becoming a way of life around the world... today's youth is powerfully empowered to make change.

To innovate. In the words of Peter F. Drucker, “Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship...the act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth.” I do not believe that youth is being wasted on today's young. It is my hope and belief that the coming generations will create wealth, not just in terms of bottom lines, but also in terms of social welfare, cross-cultural understanding, and a renewed environment. To quote from our cover page... Hope Lives!